Name: Calf Serum (Filtered)
Brand: Molecular Depot
SKU: B2013548
Price: 895.00 USD
Availability: InStock

<h2 data-section-id="u0rtwb" data-start="0" data-end="39">What is the Serum &amp; Plasma category?</h2>
&nbsp;
Serum &amp; Plasma covers fetal bovine serum (FBS, also called fetal calf serum/FCS) &mdash; the most widely used growth supplement for mammalian cell culture media &mdash; along with related plasma products. FBS supplies a complex mixture of growth factors, proteins, trace elements, vitamins, and hormones that basal media (DMEM, RPMI, and others) entirely lack, making it the default supplement at typically 10% (v/v) across mammalian cell culture protocols. FBS quality is differentiated by manufacturing grade (standard/Premium through Premium Select), treatment (heat-inactivated, gamma-irradiated), origin certification (USDA-approved), and the depth of lot-specific testing documented in the Certificate of Analysis.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Cell culture media supplementation using Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Prevent complement-mediated cell lysis using Heat-inactivated animal serum&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Translational and immunology research using Sterile human plasma derivatives&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
Sensitive embryonic stem cell propagation using Endotoxin-free serum lots&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1nxdu4e" data-start="1082" data-end="1124">How to choose serum and plasma products</h2>
&nbsp;
FBS grade tier
Premium FBS is sterility-, virus-, and performance-tested with a biochemical profile, demonstrating excellent performance across a broad spectrum of cell types &mdash; the standard choice for most research. Premium Select represents the highest available grade: lowest endotoxin and hemoglobin levels, plus hormone analysis, suitable for the most demanding and sensitive cell lines where standard Premium FBS may show batch-to-batch performance variation. Specialty grades are optimized for specific applications &mdash; hybridoma culture, embryonic stem cells, Tet-On/Tet-Off tetracycline-controlled expression systems, and hormone-dependent cell research (insulin- and estrogen-related studies) where standard FBS hormone content could confound results.
Heat inactivation: when it's appropriate
Heat inactivation (56&deg;C for 30 minutes) destroys complement proteins &mdash; necessary for immunological applications where active complement would interfere (e.g., complement-mediated cytotoxicity assays). The trade-off: heat inactivation generally reduces growth-promoting properties and increases crystalline/flocculent precipitate formation (salts, proteins, lipids, fibrin). Choose standard FBS for routine culture; choose heat-inactivated specifically when complement inactivation is a documented requirement of your assay.
Gamma irradiation for biosecurity
Gamma-irradiated FBS provides an additional layer of viral inactivation beyond filtration and standard testing, selected when research requires the highest level of biosecurity for safer, more consistent outcomes. This addresses a different concern than heat inactivation (viral vs. complement) and can be combined with other treatments depending on product line.
USDA-approved origin and traceability
USDA-approved testing and origin certification verifies virus and disease safety of source material for US import, and USDA APHIS certification enables US-origin serum use in products manufactured for export. Collection and processing under USDA requirements ensures traceability back to collection date and location &mdash; relevant documentation for regulatory pathways toward cell therapy manufacturing. Characterized FBS products extend this with traceability back to original source, sometimes with additional independent third-party verification.
Quality testing depth
Standard quality testing covers sterility (no detectable bacterial/fungal growth per current USP), mycoplasma (negative), virus panel (per 9 CFR 113.53 for USDA-regulated products), endotoxin (e.g., &lt;0.1 EU/mL), and hemoglobin (e.g., &lt;15 mg/dL, indicating collection cleanliness). Premium-tier products add hormone analysis and biochemical profiling (gamma globulin, glucose, IgG).
Manufacturing process and filtration
Quality manufacturing includes closed-system collection, positive-pressure HEPA-filtered cleanroom processing, and triple sequential 0.1 &micro;m (100 nm) filtration, documented within ISO 9001:2015-certified facilities.
Storage and handling
FBS requires frozen storage (-20&deg;C) with documented freeze/thaw/storage protocols to preserve growth performance consistency. Once thawed, store at 2&ndash;8&deg;C short-term and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles &mdash; aliquot into single-use volumes after first thaw. "One Shot" small-bottle formats (e.g., 50 mL) eliminate aliquoting and the freeze-thaw cycle entirely.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="5263" data-end="5288">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Certified FBS at &lt;0.1 EU/mL endotoxin and &lt;15 mg/dL hemoglobin represents documented quality benchmarks from commercial suppliers. Triple 0.1 &micro;m sequential filtration and closed-system, HEPA-filtered cleanroom processing under ISO 9001:2015 are standard manufacturing documentation for quality-tier FBS. As of 2026, characterized FBS with full source traceability (including third-party verification options) is increasingly specified for translational research labs anticipating eventual transition toward regulated cell therapy pathways.
For human-derived xeno-free alternatives to FBS, see Blood Products &amp; Biofluids (human platelet lysate). For individual growth factors and hormones, see Growth Factors &amp; Hormones.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team</a> at MBP Inc. and get high-purity serum and plasma reagents for your lab.

Serum & Plasma

Molecular Depot

Key Specifications

Calf Serum (Filtered)

Calf Serum (Filtered) by Molecular Depot is a filtered calf serum from animals aged between 20 days and 12 months, containing proteins, hormones and minerals, with lower growth factor and higher antibody levels than fetal bovine serum. Growth factor content falls and immunoglobulin content rises as the animal ages, which is what distinguishes the bovine serum grades from one another. It is used as a culture medium supplement where strong growth stimulation is not required. Each unit contains 50 mL. MBP supplies Molecular Depot serum and plasma products to research labs in the United States, Canada and worldwide.